A major technical glitch in the Air Traffic Control (ATC) system at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport caused chaos on Friday, leading to over 300 flight delays and sparking concerns among passengers and airlines alike. The issue, which began early in the morning, disrupted the flow of both domestic and international flights, forcing several airlines to reschedule or even consider canceling some evening departures.
Officials confirmed that the glitch was caused by a software malfunction in the ATC system — a crucial part of aviation safety and coordination. This system manages air traffic within a specific airspace, ensuring safe take-offs, landings, and movement of planes on the ground. When such a system fails, even for a short time, it can ripple through flight schedules for hours.
What Happened at IGI Airport
According to sources at the Airports Authority of India (AAI), the problem first appeared around 8:45 a.m., when controllers noticed irregularities in radar display and communication links between different terminals. The automated system that helps manage flight sequencing and communication temporarily went offline, forcing controllers to manually guide incoming and outgoing aircraft.
Manual operations are safe but significantly slower, as each aircraft’s movement must be cleared individually through radio coordination rather than automated software. This immediately caused a backlog of flights waiting to take off or land, leading to delays of up to three hours for several airlines.
A senior ATC official explained,
“The system went into fail-safe mode due to a technical glitch. We switched to manual procedures immediately to maintain safety. The issue is being investigated by the technical team.”
By late afternoon, operations had partially resumed, but many airlines were still facing delayed departure slots as the ATC worked through a large queue of pending flights.
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Impact on Passengers
Passengers bore the brunt of the disruption, with long queues forming at check-in counters and boarding gates. Many travelers took to social media to express their frustration over the lack of timely updates and poor communication from airlines.
Several passengers reported waiting inside aircraft for hours without clear information on when they would take off. Others, particularly those with connecting flights, expressed concern about missed connections and rescheduling hassles.
One passenger flying to Mumbai said,
“We boarded the flight at 10 a.m., but the plane didn’t move for two hours. The crew kept saying there was an ATC issue. It’s been chaotic — no one knows when we’ll reach.”
Airlines, including IndiGo, Air India, Vistara, and SpiceJet, issued travel advisories urging passengers to check flight status before heading to the airport. Some international carriers also adjusted their schedules to avoid congestion at Delhi airport.
Possible Cancellations
By evening, sources indicated that some flights might be canceled, especially short-haul domestic routes scheduled for late-night departures. The backlog of delayed flights meant that there was little room to accommodate additional traffic without risking further congestion.
An airline spokesperson stated,
“We are closely coordinating with airport authorities and ATC. While most flights will operate with delays, a few may be canceled depending on available slots. Safety and efficiency remain our top priorities.”
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has sought a detailed report from the ATC and AAI to determine the exact cause of the malfunction and whether it was linked to recent system upgrades.
Delhi Airport’s Role in Indian Aviation
The Indira Gandhi International Airport is India’s busiest airport, handling more than 1,400 flights per day on average. A glitch in its ATC system not only affects Delhi’s operations but also has a domino effect on flight networks across the country, as many domestic and international routes connect through the capital.
Aviation experts noted that even a one-hour ATC failure in Delhi can disrupt schedules for an entire day. Connecting flights to cities like Mumbai, Bengaluru, and Kolkata often rely on tight schedules, meaning that delays in Delhi can cascade throughout the system.
Technical Systems Under Scrutiny
The ATC system relies on a combination of radar surveillance, communication equipment, and specialized software that tracks aircraft positions and sequences them for takeoff and landing. A glitch in any of these components can compromise the entire workflow.
According to initial reports, the problem may have originated in the Radar Data Processing System (RDPS), which temporarily failed to sync flight data with communication systems. This failure forced ATC controllers to rely on backup protocols and manual coordination.
The AAI technical team, along with engineers from the original equipment manufacturer, were immediately called in to troubleshoot. By afternoon, the system was partially restored, but the full capacity was expected to return only by late evening.
Government and DGCA Response
Following the incident, the DGCA ordered a comprehensive technical audit of ATC systems across major airports to prevent similar issues in the future. The aviation regulator emphasized the need for periodic maintenance checks and system redundancy to ensure uninterrupted operations.
A DGCA official said,
“We are treating this as a serious operational issue. Even though safety was not compromised, delays on this scale indicate the need for stronger backup mechanisms.”
The Civil Aviation Ministry has also been briefed on the incident and is monitoring the situation closely.
Economic Impact and Airline Losses
Flight delays come with a significant financial cost. Every minute an aircraft is grounded, airlines incur expenses in fuel, crew time, and passenger compensation. Industry insiders estimate that the combined losses from Friday’s delays could cross several crores of rupees, especially if cancellations increase.
Moreover, frequent delays can affect airline credibility and customer satisfaction. Passengers stuck for hours often demand refunds or rebookings, adding to operational strain.
Passenger Rights and Refund Policies
Under DGCA regulations, passengers affected by long delays are entitled to assistance such as meal vouchers, hotel accommodation (for long-haul delays), or rebooking at no extra cost. Airlines have been instructed to communicate clearly with passengers and provide updates every 30 minutes.
Several passengers confirmed that airlines like Vistara and IndiGo had started offering refreshment coupons and flight change options at Delhi Airport.
Looking Ahead
By late Friday night, most operations had resumed normalcy, though the aftereffects of the disruption were expected to continue into Saturday morning. The AAI assured passengers that a detailed investigation was underway and that the issue would not repeat.
This incident has once again highlighted how dependent modern aviation is on complex software systems, and how a single glitch can ground hundreds of flights, affecting thousands of travelers.
For now, the skies over Delhi are expected to clear — but the episode serves as a reminder of the importance of robust backup systems and quick crisis management in one of the world’s busiest airspaces.